For the Love of Cats: Cat Enrichment Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
Funds from the 2025 Cat Enrichment Grant were used exactly as awarded to purchase interactive toys, tunnels, scratchers, and stress-relief enrichment items for cats in our care. These items were placed in our shelter spaces to reduce stress, increase movement, encourage play, and support positive social behaviors that help cats become more adoptable.
The enrichment items funded through this grant had an immediate and measurable impact. Cats showed increased play behavior, reduced signs of stress, improved appetite, and more relaxed body language. Shy and under-socialized cats benefited particularly from tunnels and interactive toys, which allowed them to engage without feeling exposed or overwhelmed.
Enrichment has also improved the visitor experience by helping cats appear more confident, curious, and approachable, which directly supports faster adoptions.
How many pets did this grant help?
40+
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Meet Janet, Chrissy, and Celeste! They are the sweetest and so playful and affectionate — and all from colonies that we’ve been working on for a few years. Our trapping efforts include under-served areas where there are large populations of unsterilized cats.
Janet and Crissy are sisters and are very bonded. They are energetic and also are wonderful lap cats. Celeste is soft-spoken, gentle, and a little shy at first, but warms up quickly and just loves attention.
After introducing enrichment items funded by the 2025 Cat Enrichment Grant — especially the rolling-ball play mat, scratch-and-roll cardboard scratchers, and tunnel toys — Celeste especially began to change. Play sessions became a daily routine. She started batting at toys, exploring tunnels, and using scratchers to release nervous energy.
Within weeks, all three girls were greeting visitors, engaging in play, and showing curiosity rather than fear. This transformation made them far more visible and appealing to adopters.
These girls are currently adoptable, and enrichment has played a critical role in their emotional well-being and readiness for a forever home.
We are deeply grateful for the 2025 Cat Enrichment Grant. These resources have enhanced daily life for cats in our care and strengthened our ability to prepare them for successful adoption. Enrichment is not a luxury for cats — it is essential — and this grant made a meaningful difference.
